Related Coverage

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – After a strong El Nino usually comes a La Nina. The strong El Nino could be to blame for some of our more extreme weather patterns western Massachusetts saw this past winter.

La Nina is the cooling of water in the eastern Pacific that causes different weather patterns than El Nino. We might not see a La Nina this season. Usually in a La Nina, winters are colder and stormier in the Northeast. Where it is drier and more wet in the South.

The chances of a strong La Nina were about 75% this past June but diminished to only 40% of a La Nina forming this past August. The pace of the ocean cooling has slowed down. Western Massachusetts may be in for a not-so-stormy winter.

A new La Nina update will be in October.

So far for this winter there looks to be no extreme changes as of now.